Summer offer for children and young people - 'Get Into Summer' programme: equality impact assessment

Stage 1: Framing

Results of framing exercise

The Covid-19 Education Recovery Group (CERG) brings together decision makers and key influencers to ensure that the delivery of childcare, early learning and education maintains a strong focus on excellence and equity for all, within the necessary constraints of the Covid-19 response. It provides leadership and advice to ministers and local government leaders in developing the strategic approach to the response and recovery of the Early Learning and Childcare and education system.

The impact of Covid-19 on children and young people's mental health and wellbeing, their recovery from the pandemic and its associated restrictions, as well as the disproportionate effect it has on different groups, had been part of CERG's considerations throughout the pandemic. It had a particular focus at the Group's considerations at meetings on 28 January 2021 and again on 11 March 2021, when CERG advised that a key focus needed to be on prioritising children's wellbeing and supporting young people to achieve a positive mindset as they re-enter the classroom so they can make the most of their in school time when returning to the new school year.

With this in mind and considering the disproportionate adverse impacts on certain groups, as noted in the overview section of this assessment document, the Scottish Government apportioned its Summer Offer for Children and Young People funding^[11] as follows:

• Support for local authorities in the form of a targeted offer for the targeted provision of holiday activities, coordinated by Children's Services Planning Partnerships to ensure a joined-up approach working with existing public and third sector services. The aim is to help improve the wellbeing of children and young people over the summer period, targeted at low income families, children and young people particularly adversely affected by the impacts of COVID and
• Support to a consortium of national organisations for the provision of a universal offer for all children and young people within their communities.

Alongside the funding provision, associated guidance was published^[12] for local authorities enforcing the requirement for a rights-based approach in their consideration for as wide a reach possible in their targeted provision. Similar guidance was issued to national organisations for their consideration and planning for as a wide a reach possible in their universal offer.

Equality and reach was again considered in the Scottish Government's follow-up delivery discussions, which included:

• Individual sessions with each of the 32 local authorities;
• Roundtable discussions with local authorities on 15 and 24 June 2021
• Roundtable discussions with national partners on 8 and 9 June 2021.

Extent/Level of EQIA required

Several data sources are available relating to the impact of Covid-19 on children and young people. This is set out at stage 2.